Perfect Songs: The Weakerthans – “Plea from a Cat Named Virtute”

This song is unique. On the outside, it sounds like a normal indie rock jam, but it’s the lyrics that have always made it stand out for me. Not only is the song incredibly catchy, but it’s a point of view piece from the subject’s cat. This cat, obviously named Virtute, is longing for his master to change his ways and become the person he once was. The cat is doing all it knows how to in order help him, but knows it’s truly up to the owner to change who he is. All the cat can do is believe in him until that happens, but it can only wait so long before it too has to move on…

I like the idea that the cat could easily be replaced by any loved one and the point of the song wouldn’t change (except for the killing of birds and biting, of course). The album this song is on is Reconstruction Site, which came out in 2003. The next album, Reunion Tour, has a sequel to this song on it as well, so look it up if you can. Enjoy!

Why don’t you ever want to play?
I’m tired of this piece of string
You sleep as much as I do now
And you don’t eat much of anything
I don’t know who you’re talking to
I made a search through every room
But all I found was dust that moved
In shadows of the afternoon

And listen, about those bitter songs you sing?
They’re not helping anything
They won’t make you strong

So, we should open up the house
Invite the tabby two doors down
You could ask your sister
If she doesn’t bring her basset hound
Ask the things you shouldn’t miss:
Tape-hiss and the Modern Man
The Cold War and card catalogues
To come and join us if they can

For girly drinks and parlor games
We’ll pass around the easy lie
Of absolutely no regrets
And later maybe you could try
To let your losses dangle off
The sharp edge of a century
And talk about the weather, or
How the weather used to be

And I’ll cater with all the birds that I can kill
Let their tiny feathers fill disappointment
Lie down; lick the sorrow from your skin
Scratch the terror and begin
To believe you’re strong

All you ever want to do is drink and watch TV
And frankly that thing doesn’t really interest me
I swear I’m going to bite you hard
And taste your tinny blood
If you don’t stop the self-defeating lies
You’ve been repeating since the day you brought me home
I know you’re strong

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Hey there! My name's Chris and I'm from New Jersey. Music is kinda my thing, so I figured 'why not write about it?' I hope to spread music that isn't radio garbage, no matter how obscure. I promise not to be too biased (no hipster BS here!) and to keep an open mind, and I ask that you do too. Enjoy!

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